Folding table and picnic bench



March 1957 D. G. DEL -FUOCO FOLDING TABLE AND PICNIC BENCH Filed April ll, 1955- IN V EN TOR. fio/w/v/cz 6. 0E4 @060.

ATToRQE-Y FOLDING TABLE AND PICNIC BENCH Dominick G. De! Fuoco, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application April 11, 1955, Serial No. 500,355

1 Claim. (Cl. 155-124) This invention pertains to improvements in a folding table and picnic bench and is particularly directed to a complete unit having its various elements articulately mounted together to provide an easily carried portable unit which may be rapidly and promptly set up either as a low table or as a complete bench and table assembly.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved folding table and picnic bench in which all of the elements are connected together so that the unit may be folded up in the form of a carrying case or opened out to provide either a low cocktail type table or a complete bench and table assembly for use in the field.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved folding table and picnic bench having all of the various elements pivotally connected together at all times so as to facilitate the quick setting up or collapsing to folded carrying position of the unit.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved folding table and picnic bench which may be opened partially to provide a low cocktail type table or opened completely to form a combined picnic bench and table assembly of rigid integrated construction capable of carrying heavy loads and of sustaining proper relationships of the parts during hard usage.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the unit in folded up carrying condition.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the unit partially open to form a low cocktail table assembly.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the unit completely open to form the combined picnic bench and table assembly.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the unit as shown in Fig. 3 partly in section on the line 4-i of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the locking latch for holding the assembly in the com bined picnic bench and table arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown a folding table and picnic bench device comprising two table top forming frames indicated generally at 10 and 11 each of which comprises the respec tive side members 12, 13, 14 and 15 and the respective end members 16, 17, 18 and 19 on the top of which is respectively fixed the table top pieces 29 and 21. Hinges 22 having an axis of pivoting at 23 lying in a plane defined by the respective bottom edges 24 and 25 of the respective frames 10 and 11 are suitably secured to the side members 16, 17, 18 and 19. A suitable carrying handle 26 is secured to the side member 12 of the table top atent forming frame 1'0'for carrying purposes and suitable locking hooks 27 secure the two frames 10 and 11 together in closed position as shown in Figs. 1' and 6.

Pivotally mounted to the end members 16, 17, 18 and H by suitable pins 28 carried therein are the links 29 which in turn are pivotally mounted at their outer end on pins 30 connected to the transverse pieces 31 fixed to the under side of the seat portions 32 of the benches of the unit.

Pivotally mounted on axes 33 formed by suitable hinges connected to the under side 34 are the bench legs 35 each of which may be folded back flush up underneath the under side of the seat 32 as shown in Fig. 6 or which may be swung out to sitting position and locked in place by suitable toggle latch means 36 pivotally interconnected between the legs 35 and the under side 34 of the seat 32. Latch pieces 37, Fig. 5, are pivotally mounted on suitable pins 38 fixed in the rear edges of the seats 32 and may be swung in the direction indicated by the arrow 39 to drop between the inner edges 49 of the seat portions 32 and down in the notch 41 formed in the lower ends of the links 29 as best seen in Fig. 5. When the assembly is thus opened to the combined bench and picnic table position shown in Fig. 3 the latch pieces 37 dropping into the position 37a form the final lock-up for the entire assembly to form a rigid unit thereof. In addition an abutment stop surface 42 is provided on the inner end of the links 29 which engages a mating stop surface on the piece 43 rigidly fixed to the table top forming frames 10 and 11 so as to limit the outward swinging movement of these links 29 relative to the table members 10 and 11 when in the open picnicking position of Fig. 3.

When it is desired to provide a iow cocktail type table as shown in Fig. 2 the latch pieces 37 are swung from their positions 37a to the full line position shown in Fig. 5 and the seat assembly swung up and under the table portions 1% and 11 as shown in Fig. 2 thus providing a rigid low table structure with the same assembly of apparatus described for the combined picnic bench and table assembly of Fig. 3.

Finally, when it is desired to completely collapse the unit for carrying purposes the toggle latch means are released and the legs 35 folded up flush against the bot tom surface 34 of the seats 32 and the two seat members swung together around the axis 23 provided by the hinges 22 and closed as shown in Fig. l, the two sections being latched together by the means 27 and the carrying handle 26 then being used for rendering the entire unit portable.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appended claim are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimed and desired to be obtained by the United States Letters Patent is:

In a folding table and picnic bench having a pair of table tops, hinge means pivotally connecting said pair of tops together for swinging about an axis lying in a plane defined by the adjacent bottom edges of said table tops, a pair of seat portions, links pivotally connecting said seat portions to the under side of said table tops at the opposite sides thereof from said hinge means for swing ing on axes parallel to said hinge means axis, stop means between said links and the underside of said table top, apair of legs pivotally mounted on the under side of each of said seats for swinging about transverse axes at right angles to said hinge and link axes, the improvement C0111- prising means for latching said legs in outwardly swung position, and latch pieces pivotaliy mounted on horizon tal transverse axes on said seat portions and engaging between vertical abutment surfaces on said links and the back of said seats to lock said seat portions and table tops in picnic table position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 9, 1952 France Apr. 25, 1951 

